Japan is a fascinating country, both in terms of landscape, and culture. With a rich, proud history, stunning natural beauty, and an unparalleled passion for the quirky. Even if you consider yourself an expert in all things Japan, there's always something new that will surprise you. Here are some fun facts you probably didn't know.
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01
Tokyo has tropical islands
![Tokyo has tropical islands]()
Tokyo has tropical islands
About 1,000 km south of the densely populated streets of inner-city Tokyo sits the Ogasawara Islands, a cluster of warm, sun-drenched tropical islands where the manic energy of city life and bad weather doesn’t exist. Although it’s a plane ride from the skyscraper-populated metropolis, these 30 islands - known in English as the Bonin Islands - are all part of a political subdivision of Tokyo, known as Ogasawara Village. Aogashima, Chichijima, and Hahajima are the area’s three main islands, and they’re accessible by airplane or a 25-hour ferry ride, arguably the longest inner-city commute in the world.
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02
Japan has 45 of the 51 busiest train stations in the world
![Japan has 45 of the 51 busiest train stations in the world]()
Japan has 45 of the 51 busiest train stations in the world
Japan is a nation that practically runs on railways. Daily packed commuter lines, and lightning fast bullet trains permeate every inch of the map. However, did you know the country also boasts a majority of the busiest stations in the world? The top five stations in ascending order are Yokohama, Umeda (in Osaka), Ikebukuro, Shibuya, and Shinjuku, the last of which services around 3.6 million passengers daily.
Anshin Oyado Tokyo Shinjuku Station - Male Only
4-2-10 Shinjuku-ku Tokyo
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03
There are over 6,800 islands in Japan
![There are over 6,800 islands in Japan]()
There are over 6,800 islands in Japan
When people talk about the map of Japan, they’re usually talking about Honshu, the biggest island of Japan, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu but the Japanese archipelago boasts over 6,800 other islands. Of these islands, only around 430 of them are inhabited. You can even purchase some of the country’s islands via real estate sites like Aqua Styles for a few million yen, less than the price of an inner-city Tokyo apartment.
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04
Norway introduced salmon sushi to the Japanese in the 80s
![Norway introduced salmon sushi to the Japanese in the 80s]()
Norway introduced salmon sushi to the Japanese in the 80s
Sushi is one of the nation's most widely respected and loved local dishes, but it’s a lot more international than you’d think. Today if you visit any of the country’s more laid back sushi joints, chances are you’ll see salmon sushi taking up prime position on the menu, but this dish is a relatively new concept. Historically, salmon was considered a lower grade, cheap fish, only eaten pan-fried or grilled as a way to fill out a cheap meal. It was never considered high-end traditional Edo-mae sushi fare. Norwegian aquaculture farmers figured out a way to farm the fish with a higher fat content, and no parasites so it could be eaten raw. Once they nailed the concept, they spent a good part of a decade during the 1970s and 80s marketing it to Japan until it finally caught on.
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05
The world’s most expensive tuna was sold for 3.1 million dollars in 2019
![The world’s most expensive tuna was sold for 3.1 million dollars in 2019]()
The world’s most expensive tuna was sold for 3.1 million dollars in 2019
Kiyoshi Kimura, the man behind the popular local sushi chain Sushizanmai made headlines around the world in January 2019 when he paid a whopping 333.6 million yen ($3.1 million US) for a 278-kilogram bluefin tuna. Caught off the coast of northern Japan's Aomori prefecture, the fish ended up costing Kimura about five times more than he thought he’d have to pay for it. Previous to this he had the record for highest price paid for a single fish at the new year's auction for a six-year streak until in 2017 when the owner of a competing chain outbid him, so it’s fair to assume Kimura’s move was about more than just tuna.
- Toyosu Market
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- Tokyo Koto-ku Toyosu 6-6-17-gaiku Kanri Facility Building
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Tuna Auction and Tokyo Toyosu Fish Market Tour
¥15,000
Update date：2024/04/24
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06
Godzilla is an official citizen of Japan
![Godzilla is an official citizen of Japan]()
Godzilla is an official citizen of Japan
In 2015, at the ripe age of 61, Godzilla, one of the nation’s most famous figures was recognized as a proud Japanese resident. As well as being granted citizenship, the Shinjuku local was also given a very special job offer; ‘tourism ambassador for the Shinjuku ward’. Some may consider this as ironic given the fact that throughout his career, he’s destroyed that particular neighborhood of Tokyo at least three times according to his filmography.
- Shinjuku Toho Building
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- Tokyo Shinjuku-ku Kabukichou 1-19-1
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APA Hotel Shinjuku-Kabukicho Tower
1-20-2 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo
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